Getting from Astypalaia to Kythnos

If you are heading to Kythnos from Astypalaia you are making your way from a butterfly-shaped island between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese to an island in the western Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has over 60 beaches and a medieval village at Driopida that hardly anyone outside Greece knows about.

Take the ferry

There is a seasonal direct ferry from Astypalaia to Kythnos running in summer on the wider Blue Star and Seajets routes that connect Astypalaia with the western Cyclades. The service runs a limited number of times per week and takes several hours with stops along the way. The more practical approach is to take the ferry from Astypalaia to Piraeus and then take a taxi to Lavrio, around 30 minutes from Athens Airport, for the ferry to Kythnos, which takes around 1 hour 10 minutes and runs up to 5 times daily in summer.

Getting there by air

Kythnos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Astypalaia has its own small airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Astypalaia to Athens and then taking a taxi to Lavrio for the ferry to Kythnos gives a total journey time of around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly from Astypalaia to Athens and take a taxi to Lavrio for the ferry across to Kythnos. The proximity of Lavrio to Athens Airport makes it a convenient connection that avoids crossing the city to Piraeus entirely. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Astypalaia to Piraeus and drive to Lavrio for the ferry across to Kythnos.